Chillin' with a special recipe for the Super Bowl

Chillin' with a special recipe for the Super Bowl

Feb. 06, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A game 50 years in the making deserves a meal that can measure up, or at least try.

Hormel Chili has created a "Chili Bowl 50" that includes 50 ingredients for fans to cook up for Sunday's game.

This recipe includes instant espresso powder, coriander, oregano and even cinnamon, and the chili also features plenty of vegetables with butternut squash, three different bell peppers, kale and corn, too.

The company says it sells more than 6 million pounds of chili in the two weeks before the Super Bowl, which would cover the field at Levi's Stadium where Denver and Carolina are playing Sunday. Sales are strongest in Atlanta; Knoxville and Memphis, Tennessee; and Mississippi, with fans planning parties earlier and stocking up on chili.

There's also a clear-cut favorite among customers who prefer chili with beans than without beans; with beans is the winner, people buying 33 percent more.

NEW LEAF ON LIFE: Former Chargers and Cowboys quarterback Ryan Leaf made the rounds through radio row at Super Bowl week, stopping for multiple interviews.

Smiling.

Leaf, the No. 2 pick in the 1998 draft out of Washington State and right behind No. 1 Peyton Manning, had a forgettable career that included just parts of three NFL seasons. He can relate to Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel's struggles. He passed for 3,666 yards and 14 touchdowns in 25 games, with 21 starts.

The 39-year-old Leaf was released from a Montana prison in December 2014. He served more than two years after breaking into a home near Great Falls in 2012 to steal prescription pills, and for violating his probation.

Leaf attended the Super Bowl festivities with his girlfriend, who is from the Bay Area. He is now living in Los Angeles, sharing his story to help others.

"I appreciate everybody's support," Leaf said. "A lot of people said they prayed for me. I felt their prayers. It's not about me if I'm doing well now, but I'm doing well today."

And to his longtime fans back at Washington State, Leaf offered: "It's always just 'Go Cougs' for me. That's my best."

JUST KEEP DANCING AT THE SUPER BOWL: Six-year-old Panthers fan Braylon Beam has had quite a year.

Braylon created his own campaign, #JustKeepDancing, to get through his chemotherapy treatments for a brain tumor discovered last February. He stole people's hearts when he appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to share his story.

Then, after letting DeGeneres in on his dream to become a one-day coach for his home-state Carolina Panthers, he was made an honorary coach at the Panthers' annual FanFest in August by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

So one might say he's part of the team that helped the Panthers get to this year's Super Bowl.

And Braylon will be on hand at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. Thanks to DeGeneres and NFL partner Visa, the youngster and his family will receive VIP treatment and attend the Super Bowl.

KEEPING IT REAL: Each of the more than 100 footballs that will be used in the Super Bowl will be "tagged" with a specially prepared synthetic DNA ink that leaves an invisible-to-the-naked-eye security mark to protect against possible counterfeiting.

The sideline pylons and the coin used for the game-opening toss will also be marked.

The league will use PSA/DNA Authentication Services of Santa Ana, California, to certify all footballs used in Super Bowl 50.

A PSA/DNA representative will mark each ball with a synthetic DNA strand that can be seen only when illuminated by a specific laser frequency.

ROOMATES SQUARE OFF: Two former college roommates will square off when Panthers wide receiver Philly Brown and Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby meet in the Super Bowl.

"It will be fun," Brown said. "We've talked about it since college. We just didn't realize that it was going to happen so early in both of our careers, so that makes it even crazier. We still talk every day. I was with him two days ago. It's crazy to be playing against him."

SELF-IMPOSED CURFEW: Panthers coach Ron Rivera gave his players a self-imposed curfew this week, and said on Friday that the team hasn't had any disciplinary problems.

"I think things went very, very well," Rivera said. "The self-imposed curfew — they took care of themselves, they made sure they were where they needed to be. I think they've done the things that we've asked of them as well. They've been very respectful of being around and about."

Panthers broadcaster Eugene Robinson addressed the team before it left for the Super Bowl, advising the Panthers "don't mess this up. I can be a living example — don't mess this up."

Robinson was a Falcons safety in 1999 when he was arrested the night before the Super Bowl for solicitation of a prostitute, while his wife and children were in a nearby hotel. Robinson played in the Super Bowl the following day, but gave up an 80-yard touchdown pass and missed a tackle on a long run as Atlanta lost 34-19 to the Denver Broncos.

While some teams in the past have changed team hotels the day before the Super Bowl, the Panthers are staying put in San Jose, California.